26 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [Jan., 'iS 



Form slender; color of head and thorax dark rufous, abdomen 

 black; abdomen with a fringe of long hairs on the posterior 

 edge of each segment fallar Nyl. var. decipiens Emery. 



C. herculaneus L., subspecies pennsylvanicus De Geer. 



These large black ants are found nesting in wood ; because 

 of this fact they are commonly known as the "carpenter ant." 

 The workers of this species seem to be very cosmopolitan, oc- 

 curring throughout the eastern states. Sometimes they are very 

 injurious to lumber and wooden constructions, through which 

 they construct numerous galleries and chambers, 



C. fallax Nyl., var. decipiens Emery. 



These slender forms with red heads and thoraces and black 

 abdomens are commonly found under the bark of trees or 

 crawling over the surface of the bark. The writer found a 

 large number of workers nesting in an oak gall. 



C. fallax Nyl., var. nearcticus Emery. 



The slender black workers of this species nest under the 

 bark of trees. The habits of the workers are about the same 

 as those of C. decipiens. The writer has never found but a 

 few workers in the nests. 



C. castaneus Latr., var. americanus Mayr. 



The workers of this species may be recognized by their yel- 

 low bodies and dark piceous heads. They build their nests 

 under stones. These ants are very common in the woods. In 

 size this species ranks with C. pennsylvanicus, which is the 

 largest species in the State. 



Genus Formica Linn. 



1. General color of body uniform black; head, thorax and abdomen 



with fine pubescence, giving a pruinose effect, 



fusca Linn., var. subscricca Say. 

 General color of body not black, more or less yellowish 2. 



2. Abdomen distinctly darker than the head and thorax, almost 



black; without hairs, except for the fringe of hairs on the pos- 

 terior edge of each segment; head and thorax dark rufous, 



truncicola, subspecies Integra Nyl. 



Abdomen only faintly darker than the head and thorax, which 

 are yellow or yellowish red 3. 



